No escape. Famous prisons of the world

The most dangerous criminals of humanity served their sentences in them. Terrible tortures and executions were carried out here. Some prisons are famous all over the world today. There are unique historical sites among the world-famous prisons. They are also of great value from an architectural point of view. Some prisons have long since ceased to exist. They are in desolation today. Prisoners continue to be held in other of them even today. The deserted historical prisons are particularly interesting for travelers. Tourists also like to visit the themed museums opened in the former prisons. However, it is strongly not recommended to visit them for people with a weak mind. The organizers of such museums tried to convey to their future visitors the horror of the events of the past years.

Alcatraz is considered the most famous prison in the United States. The island of the same name is the place of its location. It is located just off the coast of San Francisco. The building in which the prison is located was originally built as a military fort. It has lost its primary strategic importance over time. The historic building was reconstructed in 1934. Prison cells were equipped in it. The famous gangster Al Capone, as well as many well-known political and military figures, served their sentences in this prison.

Prison of Alcatraz was considered one of the strictest in the world in the first half of the 20th century. None of the prisoners managed to escape during the years of its existence. The decision to close the prison was made in 1963. It is a popular tourist attraction today. Large funds were required for the maintenance of the prison. It was decided to close due to a lack of funding. The entire territory of the island is a museum today. You can reach it by ferry number 33 from the coast of San Francisco.

Tourists are invited to walk around the island and admire the historical buildings preserved here. A walk through the prison grounds is one of the main stages of the tour. The furnishings of previous years have been restored in some cells, including the legendary Al Capone cell. In addition to the old prison, the lighthouse is also preserved on the island. It was built in 1909. The ancient fort was used for its intended purpose very little. But the long-range guns were still preserved on its territory. Initially, there were more than a hundred of them.

There are also old barracks on the island. Prison employees and their families once lived in them. The situation on the island has not changed much since the prison was closed. Only a few buildings underwent minor reconstruction. An interesting part of the tour is listening to the magnetic film. The memories of the prison guards and some of its inmates are recorded on it. Wonderful views of the Downtown area can be enjoyed from some areas of the island. There is an opportunity to take a lot of great photos during the tour. Next - Tower of London

Tower of London, Great Britain

The famous Tower of London is one of the most popular and recognizable landmarks in the UK. This beautiful fortress was built in the 11th century. It has changed many statuses over the years. It was the royal residence and then used for the defense of the city. Subsequently, the fortress was converted into an arsenal. The prison was opened in it then. The very first prisoners were imprisoned in it at the end of the 12th century. Representatives of the royal families, as well as many other notable persons, were imprisoned in the Tower of London. Complete article

Abu Ghraib Prison, Iraq

Abu Ghraib prison is located in the city of the same name in Iraq. It is located in the vicinity of Baghdad. The opening of this prison took place relatively recently, in 1960. It was built specifically for the detention of political criminals. Abu Ghraib prison has become known all over the world because some of the world's largest mass executions and tortures were committed in it. One of the most brutal periods of incarceration began in 2003. United States troops invaded Iraq at this time. Complete article

Devils Island Prison, French Guiana

Devil's Island is located off the coast of French Guiana. It became famous all over the world thanks to the terrible prison. It was built in 1852. The prison has been known as a place with terrible conditions since its foundation. It is estimated that more than 80,000 prisoners died there during the prison's operation. Political prisoners and dangerous criminals were exiled to Devil's Island from all over France. The decision to close the prison was made in 1952. Complete article

Guantanamo Prison, Cuba

Guantanamo Bay prison is located in the city of the same name in Cuba. It was opened on the territory of a US military base in 2002. 20 soldiers from Afghanistan became the very first prisoners of this prison. They were accused of aiding and abetting Islamic extremists. The prison has been used to hold foreigners for years of existence. Its prisoners were captured by the US military during campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to some reports, terrible tortures are carried out on prisoners in Guantanamo Bay. It was this fact that made this object known to the whole world. Complete article

Piombi Prison, Italy

Piombi Prison is known to many travelers under the unofficial name "Lead Prison". It is located in Venice. The Doge's Palace was its location. Two prisons were located here several hundred years ago. Piombi owes its name to the fact that it was built directly under the lead roof of the palace. The prison was considered one of the harshest in Europe during its years of operation. The lead roof of the palace did not prevent the penetration of cold in winter. It was very hot in the summer. The heat in the prison cells was unbearable. Complete article

Tuolsburg Prison, Cambodia

Prison Toul Sleng is located in Cambodia. It is better known as Toul Sleng Genocide Museum today. The prison was founded by the Khmer Rouge in 1975. Prison cells were set up in the old school building. The prison worked only for four years. But Toul Sleng is considered one of the most terrible prisons in the world. More than 17,000 people were incarcerated during this period. Only a few of them managed to leave it alive. Terrible tortures and executions were carried out in prison. It was closed after four years of operation in 1979. Complete article

Port Arthur Prison, Australia

Port Arthur Prison is a world-famous landmark. It is located in Tasmania. It was founded in 1833. The prison was used to hold the most dangerous criminals for almost 20 years. Only Irish and British criminals were held in the prison in its early years. Dangerous criminals began to be brought from all over the world to the main Australian prison after. The historic prison building has never been reconstructed over the years. However, many buildings managed to survive very well. Complete article

Elmina Castle Prison, Ghana

A unique monument of the colonial period is located in Ghana. This is the Elmina Castle. It is the oldest colonial structure in the region. The castle was completed in 1492. This castle has been used for the detention of prisoners since its construction for more than 300 years. Many of the prisoners of Elmina Castle were sold as slaves. It is estimated that about 30,000 slaves were sold in the castle annually during the Middle Ages. The conditions of their detention were appalling. The prisoners were locked in cramped cages. Up to 200 people could be kept in one such cage. Complete article

Maison des Esclaves Prison, Senegal

The historic Maison des Esclaves prison is located on the island of Goree in Senegal. It is also known as the center of the slave trade. The French colonialists kept slaves in this prison. The prison ceased to exist only after the abolition of the slave trade in 1848. The theme museum is located in the old prison building today. Its main visitors are residents of African states. Tourists from around the world also visit the museum. They want to get acquainted with the history of the state. Complete article

Robben Island Prison, South Africa

Robben Island is located off the coast of Cape Town. It also became famous for the prison located on its territory. It worked until 1991. This prison is known for the fact that the first president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, served his sentence in it. He ordered the opening of a thematic museum in the old prison building after he was elected president of the country. The Dutch colonialists were the founders of the very first convict prison on the island. Subsequently, the prison built by them continued to function under the control of the British. Complete article

Butyrskaya Prison, Russia

There are several historical prisons in Moscow. Butyrskaya prison is considered the most famous of them. Officially, it is called Pre-Trial Detention Center No. 2. The prison building is the most valuable historical and architectural monument for the Russian capital. Butyrsky Khutor was located on the site of the current prison during the reign of Catherine II. It was decided to build a barracks for the Butyrsky Hussar Regiment in it. It was converted into prison later. Many famous personalities served their sentences in it. Complete article

San Quentin State Prison, USA

San Quentin is one of the most notorious and controversial prisons in the United States. Prisoners sentenced to death make up a significant proportion of the criminals held in it. The gas chamber was located in the prison a few years ago. The death sentence was set in motion in it. Lethal injections are being given to inmates at San Quentin Prison after the latest legislation was passed. Evidence of the appalling conditions in which prisoners were held was first made public several years ago. The last inspection of the prison took place in 2005. Complete article

Attica Correctional Facility, USA

Attica Prison is located in New York City. It was built in 1930. The most dangerous criminals in the world were kept in it from the first year of work. But it wasn't their big names that made it famous. The prison became famous after the tragic events of September 9, 1971. The largest revolt in the history of Attica occurred at this time. More than 2,200 prisoners seized control of the prison that day. They took 33 guards hostage. Complete article

Wiezienie Montelupich Prison, Poland

The prison is located on Montelupich Street in Krakow. It also received the status of a historical landmark. It is considered one of the worst Nazi prisons in the world. It was used by the Gestapo throughout World War II. Political prisoners were kept in prison cells. Deserters, as well as Soviet and British spies captured during the war, served their sentences here. It is estimated that about 50,000 prisoners were held in the prison between 1941 and 1944. Complete article